LETTER: Saanich can do better on voter turnout

Voter turnout in last municipal election (2011) in Saanich was 25 per cent of eligible participants. This disappointing result was actually an improvement over the 2008 turnout of 22 per cent.

Why don’t eligible electors show up to vote in municipal elections? Those who do not vote miss out on the opportunity to have a say in who runs the level of government that most closely affects their daily lives.

This includes the delivery of services including garbage collection, road and sidewalk construction and maintenance, parks and recreation, zoning regulations, building variances and municipal bylaws are all part of the governance that will be handled by successful candidates in this next election. We need to ensure that we elect the best possible people to lead our municipal government.

There will be a series of all candidates meetings held in the weeks running up to election day. We encourage all eligible voters to attend one or more of these sessions and then make well-reasoned choices at the polls on Nov. 15 or during advanced polling.

The Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association will hold the last of these meetings on Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Garth Homer Centre auditorium (813 Darwin Ave.) from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

We applaud all candidates who put their names forward to run for office.

Overall, it can be a thankless job with long hours and little financial reward.

We look forward to a thoughtful and energized campaign run in a respectful manner. Please vote on Nov. 15.